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jazz and sports

In the aftermath of a devastating (or lucky) super bowl, I read a quote from Pete Carroll, the Seahawks coach, discussing the final play of the Seahawks season.

One moment doesn’t define you. The journey does.

-Pete Carroll

This particular quote struck home, especially with regards to jazz improvisation. This quote has some incredible validity to it…and is also not completely accurate with regards to jazz and sports. (more…)

Jazz and sports share a lot of common ground. Both require the performer to be instinctive and responsive to the moment. Other art forms, with perhaps the exception of acting, don’t have as many potentially destructive forces acting against the performer. With jazz improvisation, you must concerned about the piece you’re performing, your instrumental skill level, your jazz theory level, the ability of the musicians around you and the impact of other environmental factors.(more…)